[meteorite-list] Bernd on not feeding the ducks.

From: Walter Branch <branchw_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:31:12 2004
Message-ID: <00ef01c41e0c$72855cc0$3438dc44_at_wbranch>

Hi Al and List,

Exactly! The movie is called "War Games." I reference it often in working
with kids and parents.

Something like this:
So, I understand you got in trouble yesterday at school for running in the
hall.
Yes. So-and-so was chasing me. It wasn't my fault.
Well, what would have happened if you had just stood there and not ran,
could you have been chased?
...

-Walter
------------------------------------------
www.branchmeteorites.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "almitt" <almitt_at_kconline.com>
To: <bernd.pauli_at_paulinet.de>
Cc: <Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>; <mcomemeteorite2000@yahoo.it>
Sent: Thursday, April 08, 2004 2:50 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Bernd on not feeding the ducks.


> Hi Bernd and all,
>
> Great post Bernd and well worded. I want to add my two cents but hard to
follow a great act like
> yours!
>
> The problem I see is non-meteorite related posts. These can be in the form
of an attack or other
> non-sense type postings. I have been guilty myself. My recommendation is
if someone posts a
> meteorite related post, then feel free to comment on it or add to it. If
it is something you wish
> to comment on because you disagree then contact the poster off the list.
You can always post a
> rebuttal on a post with the necessary sources for proof, backing up your
comments.
>
> If someone attacks you, directly or indirectly then don't play the game
(don't feed the ducks).
> Simply don't respond. Contact them off list. Usually the people doing the
attacking are the ones
> with something to hide. The list has so much to offer if everyone would
follow Art's rules. As I
> have said before the list is what we make it. It can be elevated into a
highly attractive forum
> for discussion of meteorites or we can take it to the hog waller of all
lists. Posts responding
> to other non-sense type post also take up a great deal of space. Don't
feed the fire don't
> respond to off topic posts.
>
> In a movie one time about nuclear war, a computer that was capable of
learning started out
> simulating various attacks on the enemies of this country (war games). It
tried all kinds of
> scenarios trying to win the game of nuclear war. In each case the enemy
would respond with a full
> retaliatory strike killing most of the worlds population. If we as a group
(from all over the
> world) who love talking and learning about meteorites can't be civil to
each other, then there
> is no hope for the rest of the world. I hope you can show I am wrong but I
really wonder
> sometimes.
>
> Oh yes in the end of the movie the computer said: strange game (nuclear
war) the only winning
> move is not to play. So it is true on the list, the only winning move is
not to play into the
> hands of the list trouble makers. All my best.
>
> --AL Mitterling
>
>
>
> bernd.pauli_at_paulinet.de wrote:
>
> > Well, instead of leaning back and passing out popcorn for the ringside
watchers
> > of the nasty list fights and backstabbings, we had better step in and
caution people
> > about possible consequences. You did just that, Michael, when you wrote
these lines
> > to the List on February 29. This was quick, this was brave, this was
daring and risky:
> >
> > "Michael Farmer and all others tempted ... I don't know about the rest
of you,
> > but I would like Bernd back on this list. He clearly will not be a
member if there
> > is bickering name calling. Sincerely, Michael"
> >
> > You clearly did not want to stand idle and wait while dangers were again
gathering!
> >
> > Just the opposite was true last October before I unsubscribed. Nobody
even tried
> > to "restore a bit of law and order" while some list members ranted and
raved almost
> > non-stop. I tried to make the list aware of what was unfolding, I tried
to put it with a
> > grain of humor ... list members did not react, zero, zilch, nothing.
Here is what I wrote:
> >
> > "October's harvest (and the month is not over yet): dipshit - crap -
nitwit - idiot - rip off
> > - piss off - spam stupidity - idiocy - money-hungry dealer - coward -
ass - ... (only an
> > excerpt - any meteorites out there ? ;-)"
> >
> > Instead, quite a few list members excelled in the systematic demise of
another
> > list member who wrote to the List after the tragic events of 9/11, 2001:
> >
> > "Hello all, I personally and the Italian State express the most
> > felt condolences for the victims of the terrible attacks today."
> >
> > Such words were a sure proof of that list member's pro-American
sympathies.
> > I am not trying to plead a case for this list member, he did plunder, he
had made
> > quite a few mistakes but it was and still is wrong to only descend on
him while
> > those who clearly provoked several of his reactions, got away
"unscathed", and
> > the list chose to wait while dangers gathered.
> >
> > And dangers did gather and culminate in the disgusting, nauseating,
despicable
> > and utterly offensive T-shirt affair with people "proudly showing off
this T-shirt" at
> > the Tucson Mineral and Gem Show ... and both the Tuscon attendees and
the List
> > chose to let it happen instead of interfering, instead of putting an end
to such a
> > hoopla.
> >
> > But the "cream of the crop"for me was when a list member publicly
denounced on
> > his website the one figured on the T-shirt comparing him to used toilet
paper and
> > finding him guilty of being an idiot.
> >
> > Most of us have seen and read this disrespectful comment but chose
> > to wait while dangers gathered at the horizon. Hostilities broke out
again
> > a few days ago and resulted in an unprecedented series of "good byes":
> >
> > Entropy Dave, Mexico Doug, Howard, Timothy, ... to name a few.
> >
> > I would like to share with you the words that finally brought
> > me back to the List. The author .... well, Mexico Doug !!!
> >
> > "All I know is that the list has become much more civil lately and I
would like to
> > personally invite you back to join on a trial basis. We really need
people like you
> > there, because the less good people there are are the less interesting
topics
> > become in general. The "network effect". What good is having a telephone
if you
> > are the only one ... So please come back to the list and help keep the
topics
> > interesting. You're not alone and the losers from your departure are
only people like
> > us (the people that aren't barbaric flamers), and we need to maintain
critical mass,
> > so what do you say to that ... Saludos, Doug"
> >
> > M. Blood responded:
> >
> > > Do you have suggestions on how
> > > not to wait while dangers gather?
> >
> > Step in, put a halt to anything that might hurt a list member's
feelings, stick to that
> > which brings us together => meteorites, discuss things without abusing
people's
> > reputation, be critical but not abusive.
> >
> > Do not always try to call upon Art to step in for us and our
wrongdoings, he is wise
> > enough to stay out of such petty quarrels. Do not leave this list but
raise your finger
> > as soon as any form of haggling starts again before it turns into
someone's demise.
> >
> > And, ... I am tired of using my delete key. This can't be the real thing
to delete nine
> > out of ten posts unless you want to live with such comments from a
*very* respected
> > list member: "Hi Bernd, I hardly read the list anymore. I have been
hitting the delete
> > button more often than not."
> >
> > Best wishes,
> >
> > Bernd
>
>
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Received on Fri 09 Apr 2004 04:27:07 AM PDT